HARRY REDKNAPP has distanced himself from speculation linking him with the vacant Liverpool job and backed Kenny Dalglish to take over at Anfield.

Former Reds striker Robbie Fowler is among those who have hailed the Tottenham manager as the perfect replacement for Rafa Benitez at Anfield.

Redknapp has transformed Spurs from relegation candidates to Champions League qualifiers in the space of 18 months.

However, the 63-year-old insists he has no intention of leaving White Hart Lane for Merseyside and wants to sign a new contract to extend his stay in the capital.

“I am not being presumptuous turning down Liverpool, because I haven’t been offered the job and haven’t spoken to anyone about it,” he said.

“There is no need, as I have one year left on my contract at Tottenham and I am not thinking about anything other than being at White Hart Lane next season.

“I can tell you that I have not been offered a new contract, but that doesn’t mean I am looking to move on – far from it.

“I am loyal to Spurs, I want to stay at Spurs and I have a contract with Spurs, and I’d be happy to sign a new contract at Spurs if I was offered one, but in any case I have one year on my contract.”

Redknapp believes Dalglish, who is leading the search for Benitez’s successor, is the ideal candidate to take over as manager.

He added: “Why not give it to Kenny Dalglish? I am sure he would want it, and why not?

“He is Liverpool through and through. He would be a good man for the job.

“He has experience, he knows exactly what is needed at Liverpool and the players would love it, especially someone like Steven Gerrard who would, I am sure, respond to the appointment of Dalglish as manager there.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Ian St John has called on the board to appoint a British manager. He wants the Reds to look closer to home after six-year spells for Gerard Houllier and Benitez.

St John said: “Personally I hope we get a British manager. We’ve had over 10 years of foreign managers. Take away the night in Istanbul and the whole club seems to have changed.”

St John has backed the club’s decision to end Benitez’s reign.

“Rafa can’t really complain – he had six years and spent a lot of money,” St John adds. “At the end of the six years he didn’t have a squad strong enough to win the Premier League or to finish in the top four.

“The way the team had been playing in the last couple of seasons I just felt we had hit the buffers. The football that we always went to Anfield to watch was mundane.”